An independent system is needed to fix Britain’s broken method of press regulation, David Cameron has told the Leveson Inquiry.

The Prime Minister told the inquiry into media ethics that the relationship between the press and politicians had been too close for 20 years.

He admitted that it was difficult for governments to reform the system because they had a vested interest.

“We need to try to find a way for some independence to be brought to that,” he said.

“I think the regulatory system we have at the moment doesn’t work.

“We need to draw some boundaries but it is very difficult to do.

“If you take the expenses scandal, it was deeply painful for politicians but it was absolutely right that it was revealed.”

He added: “In the last 20 years, I think the relationship has not been right. I think it has been too close and I think we need to get it on a better footing.”

Mr Cameron told the inquiry that the advent of 24-hour news channels had made life more difficult for governments.

He said: “We are in a permanent battle of issues being thrown at you hour by hour where responses are demanded incredibly quickly.

“Politicians have to get out of the 24-hour news cycle to try to fight every hourly battle and face long-term issues and be prepared sometimes to take a hit on a story.”

Mr Cameron said the relationship with the press was “not particularly trusting at the moment”.

“I think a lot of politicians think the press always get it wrong,” he said. “A lot of the press think politicians are in it for themselves - are not in it for the right reasons. It’s become a bad relationship.

“The expenses scandal was a massive knock to Parliament and politicians’ standing and politicians have to prove they are worthy of respect.”

Mr Cameron was asked about meetings with newspapers.

He suggested that he targeted Conservative-supporting newspapers and added: “With all due respect to the Daily Mirror, there is only a certain amount of impact I am going to have.”

Mr Cameron said broadcasting rules meant that television “could not be on your side”.

He added: “A lot of the time when I was party leader was spent thinking how you could get your message our message across on television.”

Mr Cameron was asked about his views on keeping written notes of politicians’ meetings with journalists.

He said keeping written notes of every meeting would be “overly bureaucratic”.

But he said there was potential for improvement when “commercial” issues or interests featured in discussions.

“The problem is the more rules we create the more difficult it is to make sure everyone abides by them,” he said. “I don’t want to create a system that doesn’t work.”

He said he was “close friends” with a number of journalists. Some of those were people he had known for “20 or 30 years” and one was a neighbour, he said.

The Inquiry heard that during Mr Cameron’s four years and five months as Opposition leader he had 1,404 meetings or interviews with the media.

That worked out at more than one every working day, Inquiry counsel Robert Jay QC said.

Once in Government the number averaged at 13 a month, a fall of 50%, he added.

Before entering No 10 the Conservative leader had ten meetings with Rupert Murdoch and 15 with James Murdoch.

He met Rebekah Brooks 19 times, although that number did not necessarily include social engagements, Mr Cameron said.

The Prime Minister denied suggestions any editor or proprietor had ever tried to pressure him into changing policies but said there would be “robust debates” on certain topics.

He told the Inquiry it was important not to “overdo” the influence wielded by newspapers.

“In no way does winning the support of this newspaper or that newspaper guarantee an election victory,” he added.

Mr Cameron was asked about meetings with members of the Murdoch family, which owns The Sun newspaper.

He told how James Murdoch promised The Sun’s support for the Conservatives at a meeting in September 2009 - prior to the May 2010 General Election, after which Mr Cameron became Prime Minister.

“It was a drink and a catch up,” Mr Cameron told the inquiry. “He wanted to tell me The Sun was going to support the Conservatives. I was obviously pleased.”

Mr Cameron said he remembered discussions about economic policy but did not recall any mention of policies relating to the BBC and Ofcom.

“He was very keen to tell me directly that The Sun was going to support the Conservatives,” said Mr Cameron. “My memory is that was what the conversation was about.”

Mr Cameron said he met Rupert Murdoch in Santorini, Greece, in August 2008.

“It was just an opportunity to get to know Rupert Murdoch. Obviously I was trying to win over his newspapers and put across my opinions.

“For me it was just a opportunity to build my relationship. It was quite a long way to go... it just seemed like a good opportunity.”